Mumbai: Despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner (BMC) denying permission for the fun fair at the Meenatai Thackeray ground in Chandivali, a full fledged fun fair has started. The BMC ward office has also written to local police station, however no action has been initiated as of yet.
The fair is organised by local BJP leaders Prashant Maurya and Prajakta Sane Maurya. While, advocate Ujjwal Nikam, who unsuccessfully contested from the Mumbai North Central Seat (which includes Chandivali) for the Lok Sabha, also attended the fair.
Photo Credits: Mandeep Singh Makkar
"The 1200 sq mt ground is reserved as playground for children and as per BMC rules, from April 15 to June 15 a playground cannot be allowed for any commercial activities. Additionally, the ground was recently revamped and beautified by the BMC spending Rs 4 crore," said Mandeep Singh Makkar, founder of Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA).
Advocate Ujwal Nikam, member of the BJP at the fun fair | Photo Credits: Mandeep Singh Makkar
As the fun fair has started without BMC permission, the L ward office on April 28 has written to the Senior Police Inspector of Saki Naka police station to take immediate action. As per the letter, Prashant Maurya has sought permission to organise the fun fair from April 20 to 28.
However, the ward office had denied the permission, following the BMC rules that playgrounds should be kept fully available for children to play during summer vacations. The letter signed by the ward officer, reminds police about the inaction despite earlier letter that the fair is running without permission.
Although BMC letter mentions fun fair date of April 20 to 28, the fair was postponed by the organisers and is now run from April 27 to May 6.
Local MP Varsha Gaikwad from Congress also raised the issue on her X handle. "In Chandivali, the Matoshree Meenatai Thackeray Recreational Ground — a public open space meant exclusively for children — has been illegally & forcefully encroached upon for an amusement fair organised by the BJP. Official documents clearly reveal that the local ward office had denied permission for this fair. The Assistant Commissioner specifically stated that such an event cannot be permitted on the recreational ground as per rules. Despite this, the BJP went ahead in blatant defiance of the law," Gaikwad said in her tweet on Friday.
"The President of BJP's Mumbai Minority Morcha — even admitted that although permission was denied, they proceeded because 'everything was already set up'. This audacity exposes a dangerous sense of entitlement," Gaikwad added.
Meanwhile, CCWA also raised the issue of security as the fair is been attended by hundreds of people daily and there is no police security. "At the time when the Mumbai city and the whole country is on high alert, a crowded place has no police security. This fair is not just violation of rules and inaction by authorities but a security threat," Makkar said.
Despite repeated attempts, L ward's assistant municipal commissioner and Senior PI of Saki Naka police station could not be reached for a comment.
